Lemonade, Pork, Gators, and Bean

Last Friday afternoon, Chris, Bean, and I packed up and headed to Nana and Granddad’s for a night. My mom had tickets to a University of Florida baseball game on family night and so we thought we’d take Bean for his first sporting event.

First, I should pause here and explain what a monumental event this was for me. See, I went to Florida State University. And, if you’re a football fan, you’ll understand why it was incredible that I was even at this game in the first place. For those of you without football in your lives (and I pity you), the University of Florida and Florida State University are rival schools. Though, admittedly, in the past five years or so, FSU hasn’t really put up much of a fight. I went to FSU and my sister went to UF. Also, Chris’ entire family are UF alums. So, I get a lot of crap in my house for being a Seminole while everyone else is a Gator.

This is the family Bean was born into. Poor kid.

So, the fact that I willingly dressed my child in this hideous blue color is just one more example of the deep love I have for my husband and family.

We got to campus just in time for a picnic dinner. My dad brought pulled pork, baked beans, and potato salad. My favorite things on earth. And, apparently, Bean’s new favorites as well.

I know we probably should have given him something healthier and wholesome, like fruits and vegetables. But I had no choice. Grandparents are rebels. And they can’t be stopped. Which is why since we’ve moved to Florida Bean has experienced things like Jell-O, key lime pie, and Wendy’s Frostys. I have no control.

Bean also tried Nana’s homemade lemonade. It was like baby crack. He went crazy for the lemonade. So crazy that anytime he saw a red cup after that first sip he would lunge for it.

First sip

Tart! Too tart!

Well, wait a minute…

Let me try it again…

After we dragged Bean away from the lemonade and pulled pork, we headed over to the stadium. And it was actually really great – even if it was orange and blue.

Bean loved watching the baseball players warm up on the field, but what he REALLY loved was watching the little truck that drove out on the field and dragged the rake over the dirt. He watched that truck the whole time while quietly making his little engine noise, “Grrrrrr….”

And almost just as fun as the truck on the field was Nana and Granddad, who played all of Bean’s favorite games while waiting for the baseball game to start. Granddad is great at the “take that binky!” game. Bean thinks he’s so funny!

We knew we wouldn’t be able to stay too long because Bean would get tired, so we went early to watch the entire team warm up. Thank goodness we did that though because a minute before the first pitch of the game, the heavens opened up and poured a rainshower down on us all. Knowing that Bean was getting tired anyways, we decided to call it a night before the game even started! So, my Dad ran to get the car and we waited at the front gate of the stadium, trying our best to hide Bean from the rain.

But hiding doesn’t last long when Nana’s after your tummy sugar…

Thankfully, just before Nana could get the last of Bean’s tummy sugar, Albert the Alligator showed up. I was so glad Bean had been to the character breakfast earlier that week and had already seen the Disney characters. Otherwise, I think a giant gator might have been a little scary.

But Bean was super excited!

After Albert left, it started raining harder so we headed for cover outside of the stadium at the ticket booth. We were under the awning there when we heard a thud and out of nowhere a baseball came rolling off the tent and landed about 2 feet in front of us. One of the players had hit a foul ball right over to where we were standing! So, at Bean’s first baseball game – a game we didn’t even actually see – Bean caught his first baseball! Nana jumped on it and grabbed it for Bean Man, whose favorite things in the world right now are balls. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

All in all, Bean’s first sporting event was a big success. Too bad it wasn’t at an FSU game, but there will be plenty of time for that in the future!

Funny (and true) story. The summer before my junior year of college I was dating a guy who went to FSU, a fact that he was SERIOUSLY proud of, to the point that it got on my nerves (I was attending a perfectly respectable school in SC). Upon meeting for the first time, he and my dad had the following exchange:

Dad: So, what do you do
Guy: I go to FSU
Dad: Oh, I didn’t know you were a football player.
Guy: I’m not, I’m a junior marketing major.
Dad (mock incredulity): Hold on, are you saying they’ve got a school down there, too? I thought it was just a football team!

Let me just say I love all things UGA & FSU. So the gators, they are pretty low on the sports totem pole. However, your bean looks ADORABLE in the blue and orange. Now….how to get him in the more appropriate colors of Garnet & Gold!
BTW: I love your blog!

I completely understand dealing with intra-family rivalries…I went to UVA and my husband went to VA Tech (sort of the equivalent of UF and FSU) and we’re always having to compromise our “values” for the other person! Looks like Bean had a great time 🙂

You should get Kate to tell you about the time I put both her and her sister out of my car, because she was razzying her sister so much on the way home after FSU had beaten Florida at THE SWAMP!! (on some lousy calls by the ref’s by the way)

Bless his heart, Bean is so cute with Albert! My husband’s family are ALL huge Gator fans so I’m learning about the love of all things blue and orange. Those folks are fanatics!
Looks like y’all had a ton of fun!

I understand your rivalry issues…our house is Ohio State University vs Michigan. My son frequently wears the maize and blue colors (why can’t they just call it gold?!) – but he often has an OSU onsie on under his sweatshirt! 🙂 Shh!

It’s great to be a Florida Gator! Beanie looks good sporting that orange and blue!
But I totally understand your family conflict – my family are all huuuuge Nole fans, so they practically disowned me when I chose UF. But once a Nole always a Nole – so now I root for both teams 🙂

One of your blogs a few months ago talked about all the healthy foods you were preparing for Bean. I thought it was great and then realized what my son was eating at that age. And I thought “oh geez what did I do”. After today’s post- you answered my question, I had to deal with Grandparents and baby food- not a good combination at all. It is true- Grandparents can not be stopped, no matter how loud we yell, they only get sneakier.

As someone with a boyfriend at the University of Miami, and myself being from the Carolina side of the extremely heated Carolina-Duke (or Dook, as it should be) basketball rivalry, I too have a thing against that particular shade of dark blue.

But I’m glad your family had fun, and that Bean enjoyed his first sporting event and sip of lemonade (yum!) !!

I’m telling you.. I just keep coming back for more.. I’ve been reading your blog for about 2 or 3 months and I like it a lot, I even went back to some of your previous post and I liked them too.. Keep up the good work you’re doing. Bink is just so kissable!! and Hugable!!! totally adorable!!

Love the pic with Albert! I’m hoping you have a future UF Alum there, growing up in your house! Either way, I’m jealous of all the Gator-y action you got going on this weekend. I’m in Orlando too and it’s been fo’ eva since my husband and I got off our butts and drove to Gainesville for a game. Sounds like good times!

Florida Schmorda get some red and black on that boy! :)Also, I am VERY impressed with your hair. How is it not frizzy? My hair has been like an ad for 80’s hair the past few days with all the humidity! Help a big-haired sister out!